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The Bydo Empire invades the App Store again in R-Type II

It was 25 years ago that R-Type II first appeared in arcades. As they were when the first game exploded onto the scene, young gamers were wowed by the side-scrolling sequel's massive bosses, fast action, and punishing difficulty.

Now, a mere quarter of a decade later, developer DotEmu has ported the sci-fi shooter to iPhone and iPad.

The Irem classic is set two years after the original R-Type. This timeout, you take control of the R-9c - an upgraded version of the original game's R-9 – to once again battle the evil Bydo Empire.

Along with the classic weapons from the first game, the R-9c brings with it a few upgrades to help in the fight. A new shotgun laser and search laser are on hand to provide more fast paced tactical options. The anti-ground unit bomb, meanwhile, helps deal with some of the difficultly placed foes.

This iOS update of R-Type II follows last year's release of R-Type. Though we enjoyed the faithful port of the original, we found the touch controls lacking for some of the late game action.

Since the game was released, however, patches have addressed these concerns. And, at first glance, these lessons appear to been carried over to this new release.

Players looking for an authentic visual experience will have the choice of original graphics and resolution, complete with scan lines. Those wanting something a bit more modern can choose the updated screen mode, which offers improved graphics and fullscreen gameplay.

At only £1.49 / $1.99, fans of classic shoot'em-ups should check out R-Type 2 on the App Store now.